MACD Forex Technical Analysis Forex Trading Signals
Developed by Gerald Appel,
The Moving Average Convergence/Divergence is one of the simplest, reliable, and most commonly used indicators.
It is a momentum oscillator and also a trend-following indicator.
Construction
The construction of this indicator calculates the difference between two moving averages and then plots that as the "Fast" line; the a second "Signal" line is then calculated from the resulting "Fast" line and then plotted on the same panel window as the "Fast" line.
- "Fast" line - Blue Line
- "Signal" line- Red Line
The "standard" MACD values for the "Fast" line is a 12-period exponential moving average and a 26-period exponential moving average and a 9-period exponential moving applied to the fast line, this plots the "Signal" line.
- Fast line= difference between 12 and 26 exponential moving averages
- Signal line= moving average of this difference of 9-periods
Forex Technical Analysis and Generating Forex Trading Signals
The MACD is commonly used as a trend-following indicator and works most effectively when analyzing trending market movements. The three common methods of using MACD to generate signals are:
Crossovers Signals:
Fast line/Signal line Crossover:
- A buy signal is generated when the Fast line crosses above the Signal line
- A sell signal is generated when the Fast line crosses below the Signal line.
However, in a strong trending market this signal gives a lot of whipsaws, the best crossover to use would thus be the Zero Line Crossover Signal that is less prone to whipsaws.
Zero Line Crossover Signals:
- When the Fast line crosses above zero center line a buy signal is generated.
- when the Fast line crosses below zero center line a sell signal is generated.
Divergence Trading:
Looking for divergences between the MACD and price can prove to be very effective in identifying potential reversal and/or trend continuation points in price movement. There two types of divergences:
- Classic Divergence Signals
- Hidden Divergence Signals
Overbought/Oversold Conditions:
MACD is also used to identify potential overbought/oversold conditions in price action movements.
These levels are generated if the shorter MACD Lines separate dramatically from the median, this is an indication that price action is over-extending & it will soon return to more realistic levels.
MACD and Moving Average Crossover System
This indicator can be combined with others to form a Forex trading system. A good combination with the Moving Average crossover system. A trading signal is generated when both give a signal in the same direction.
Technical Analysis
